At this point, I would start Nick Baer

[RocknRollface]

Starting doesn't equal minutes played unless a player is going to play the entire game.

I do think Baer is probably one of the top 5 players but to change starting lineups based on the last two games against nobodys would seriously look bad on Fran.

Baers minutes should and will continue to increase.

 

[RocknRollface]

Let's pump the brakes until we see Baer do it against high-major athletes. Right now, his offensive game is pretty limited: spot up shooter and transition finishes at the rim. That's fine, assuming he can still do those things effectively against Big 10 athletes.

Thats basically true of the entire team besides Uthoff.

Theres allot of other things that go on in a basketball game that are necessary to win besides scoring and Baer does allot of them well.

 

[RockEyeState]

I don't think the lord picks sides in basketball.
Merry Christmas to you, Rock.

Not really much of a theologian, eh Tuna? So, ;you're going to ban all
Prayer at the free throw line........yeah, great strategy.
Not

 

[RockEyeState]

Let's pump the brakes until we see Baer do it against high-major athletes. Right now, his offensive game is pretty limited: spot up shooter and transition finishes at the rim. That's fine, assuming he can still do those things effectively against Big 10 athletes.

Sorry.......but this makes zero sense. Baer/'s offensive game is limited?? Really? Then, how is it he scored 19 points in limited minutes, when Starters scored less?

I'm still waiting for a logically reason Nick shouldn't be in starting lineup. Have not seen it, yet.
So, when the senior starters begin to friggin STEP-UP, I'll be fine with N Baeir coming off the bench.

Merry Christmas to all Hawkeye fans everywhere!

 

[fivecardstud14]

Sorry.......but this makes zero sense. Baer/'s offensive game is limited?? Really? Then, how is it he scored 19 points in limited minutes, when Starters scored less?

I'm still waiting for a logically reason Nick shouldn't be in starting lineup. Have not seen it, yet.
So, when the senior starters begin to friggin STEP-UP, I'll be fine with N Baeir coming off the bench.

Merry Christmas to all Hawkeye fans everywhere!

DanL made some logical reasons. Did you just ignore that post altogether?

 

[revkev73]

There are morale consequences whenever you put a freshman into the starting slot...and sit a senior...

 

[Chewback]

Sorry.......but this makes zero sense. Baer/'s offensive game is limited?? Really? Then, how is it he scored 19 points in limited minutes, when Starters scored less?

I'm still waiting for a logically reason Nick shouldn't be in starting lineup. Have not seen it, yet.
So, when the senior starters begin to friggin STEP-UP, I'll be fine with N Baeir coming off the bench.

Merry Christmas to all Hawkeye fans everywhere!

Yeah well, I don't know if you call 23 minutes limited since only 2 guys played more, but 19 points in 23 minutes IS pretty good. I know some folks put a lot of importance on the appearance of starting but at this point, I think Baer is a bigger threat coming off the bench. Some guys are geared that way and he may be one of them. He gets to watch the flow and when he comes in, he's ready for it. I'm not against him starting, I just don't see it as necessary and maybe not even desirable at this point.

 

[Chewback]

A ban? Not at all. Pray away. But what happens if the opposition has equal prayers to ours. Seems like both sides would be pissing in the wind. Like I said, let the boys settle it on the court.

Ha! Good strategy. Make God think about it. Make Him choose up sides. Who does He really want to win? Quite the conundrum.

 

[The Sleeping Dog]

Unbelievably funny interview with Bobby Knight after SMU, back in the Dickerson days when they were really good, kicked a field goal to win at the gun. I cannot repeat it here because its obscenity filled but if you can find it its worth it.

The gist of it was God effing the Baptists because God is a Methodist.

 

[Packer54]

I wouldn't do it. We NEED him coming off the bench and he seems real comfortable with that. I like our bench and let them "age" a bit and continue to grow. They are next years starters.

 

[Mitjacks]

Hes the most fundamentally sound player Iowa has by a wide margin. Im anxious to see how he does in Big 10 play, but the beauty of him is hes only a freshman.

Good post. Baer is playing confident and he has a lot of game (very multi-faceted). He doesn't make mistakes. You can tell he doesn't play afraid so I'm pretty sure he'll be fine come BIG season. He won't dominate, but he'll hold his own. I really think our best line-ups are with him in there because he does so many things well (mistake-free). He's very active..jumps well. Maybe his one thing he lacks that I see right now is his strength, but he makes up for a lot of that with activity and working to front inside players and keep himself moving. I really like this kid and he'll help Iowa quite a bit to be a better team. I can guaranty you that Fran is feeling very good about Baer's production right now. I can see where some are wanting to take a more 'wait and see' approach, but there is no doubt the kid can play at this level. Some of the things he has you can't really teach (Timing his jumps on rebounds and blocked shots, adjusting to the speed of the game, quick hands and reaction). I'm really surprised by how well he is shooting right now, too. Not surprised by his scoring inside (which White actually wasn't great at other than dunks). I'm excited about his future with him just being a freshman.

 

[hawknut]

Baer reminds me of Aaron White. Plays harder than the rest and in good position most of time. Not quite as long or explosive as White, but a much better shooter.

 

[RocknRollface]

Baer reminds me of Aaron White. Plays harder than the rest and in good position most of time. Not quite as long or explosive as White, but a much better shooter.

He's like a shorter less athletic much better shooting White but at a different position with a completely different offensive game and defensive skill set.

So basically two skinny white guys that play hard.

 

[RockEyeState]

Nicholas Baer came off the bench and scored more than Jarrod Uthoff. Very, very impressive Big10 debut for the freshman from Bettendorf. This kid plays with a lot of Moxie...........

 

[revkev73]

I don't see him as less athletic than White...White didn't progress to the point of making some of the plays Baer has already accomplished...posting down low, the short floater on the baseline. White most often would rush ahead...might be a dunk but lots of other bad things often happened. Baer is smart and very polished for someone of his stature and experience. He is slippery and better than he looks to the eye.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

Starting doesn't equal minutes played unless a player is going to play the entire game.

I do think Baer is probably one of the top 5 players but to change starting lineups based on the last two games against nobodys would seriously look bad on Fran.

Baers minutes should and will continue to increase.

How would it look bad for Fran? He sees him everyday in practice. If he can start, he will know more than anybody.

At this point I am good with whatever Fran wants to do, and i have not seen a single practice. I am ok with our current lineup, but wouldn't be sad if Baer was put in there for either MG or AC.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

Sorry.......but this makes zero sense. Baer/'s offensive game is limited?? Really? Then, how is it he scored 19 points in limited minutes, when Starters scored less?

I'm still waiting for a logically reason Nick shouldn't be in starting lineup. Have not seen it, yet.
So, when the senior starters begin to friggin STEP-UP, I'll be fine with N Baeir coming off the bench.

Merry Christmas to all Hawkeye fans everywhere!

Heres my reason.....he keeps the offense flowing with the "second" unit with the way he's playing right now. He provides a spark. In the past we've seen "2nd" units where the offense stagnates.

Here's a question for you....who does he replace in the starting lineup? Clemmons? Move Jok to 2 and start Baer at the 3? Clemmons doesn't provide the offense that Baer does off the bench so IMO this would be a bad choice.

Baer had 21 minutes against MSU which is essentially starter type minutes....bringing him off the bench and keeping the offense flowing gives Fran the opportunity to get minutes out of Wagner who provides pretty much no offense at this point. You really have to look at the mix on the floor when talking substitution patterns and right now and IMO the rest of the season...Baer coming off the bench really provides Fran with options with going 9 deep. You start him and you really have to worry about the offensive production of the "second" unit.

Finally....if he gets starters minutes who cares if he starts?

 

[CentralIAHawk]

Here is your reason: You don't change the starting lineup after you just defeated the #1 team in the country. You change the starting lineup when you want to shake things up, when things are going poorly, when you need a change.

We just beat MSU, played ISU to the last shot, and are 7-1 in our last 8 games. That is simply not the time to change lineups or rotations. I agree with everything everyone is saying about Baer, and I also am hopeful that he will have a long, illustrious career as a Hawk. As far as comparisons, I am hoping for Ryan Bowen defensively and Doug McDermott offensively...lol. That is a tall order, but those actually are the comparisons that I see. Remember, the kid is a redshirt, walk-on freshman. Time will tell.

Go Hawks!

ps. I love Fleming's demeanor on the bench...I don't think that is a kid that is unhappy or transferring.